Some of you may have seen these ads in fashion magazines.
I read a disturbing article last night in Bazaar, written by reporter Dana Thomas.
Remember about a year ago when Mayor Bloomberg raided some stores in New York’s Chinatown and seized more than $1 million worth of fake goods? I never realized how counterfeit luxury items were directly responsible for so many crimes, including human trafficking, child labor, organized crime and gang warfare. Counterfeiting is also used to launder money and the money has been linked to terrorism.
Dana talks about the raid she witnessed with Chinese police in a tenement in Guangzhou and what was discovered when they walked in. Two dozen sad, tired, dirty children, ages 8 to 14, were making fake Dunhill, Versace and Hugo Boss handbags on old, rusty sewing machines.
Another time Dana Thomas went to an assembly plant in Thailand and saw six or seven children all under 10 sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags. The investigator told her that the owners had broken the children’s legs and had tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn’t mend. They did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play.
And it’s not just handbags, watches and shoes. It’s everything: toothpaste; toys, prescription drugs… all of which can cause a health impact.
Unfortunately there are no laws in the US to stop people from purchasing fakes. However, in France, if you are caught carrying a fake, you are put in jail and fined up to 360,000 Euros. Think twice before you spend your money and make sure it doesn’t support what might be illegal.
You are better off with a real non-designer bag than with a fake designer. If you really need a designer bag and cannot afford one, rent one from www.bagborroworsteal.com.
For more information, please go to FakesAreNeverinFashion.com.